Spiritual Endurance

This Week's Combined Readings
from "The One Year Devotional Guide":
Exodus 10:1-23:13
Matthew 20:1-24:28
Psalm 25:1-29:11
Proverbs 6:6-7:23

Next Week's Combined Readings
from "The One Year Devotional Guide":
Exodus 23:14-35:9
Matthew 24:29-27:31
Psalm 30:1-33:22
Proverbs 7:24-9:6

Hello to one and all!! Thanks for your continued patience with me getting back on my feet and back on time! I will try my best to get back to Saturday morning emails instead of these sporadic any day messages! I know God will help me get on track and share His love with you!

Focus Verse(s): Matthew 24:12-13
"And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved."

Last week, talking about the state of the economy and things in general, got me thinking about fear. This week, reading this verse and still contemplating the world around us, I am thinking about love and optimism. I see so many emails, news stories, and daily conversations that have people growing more and more negative. I read and hear complaints over various situations and leaders, tales of destruction and war, and overall pessimistic tones to almost everything being circulated... When I read this passage in Matthew it occurred to me that this is exactly what the evil one wants! The devil has planted his seeds and is sitting back watching us destroy ourselves and the world around us. He is laughing as people are growing cold! But God wants us to endure! We can't let ourselves get sucked into the lawlessness and the hopelessness that encompasses the world around us. We need to grasp onto our brothers and sisters in Christ and help each other endure through faith and His Spirit. We need to approach all things with love and with an optimistic attitude. God does not wish to see us perish, He sacrificed His only Son to see us saved! Through prayer, worship, meditation and fellowship I believe we can endure together and we will not grow cold if we cling to God. Will you please pray with me:

Holy Father,
I am torn daily to grow cold as those around me are disheartened by the state of the world today. Please help me to cling to You and endure in love, faith and hope. I want to be a beacon of Your light in this world that is growing dim and I pray that Your Spirit keeps me from growing cold myself. Lord, I want to thank You for all of Your leaders in Your world, Your countries and most especially in Your churches. Please continue to bless all of them and continue to grant them Your wisdom so that they may lead us, Your people, in the right direction. We also thank You for all of Your soldiers, young and old, present and past and we pray that You please bless and protect them as well as Your families which You surround them with today and always. Father, You alone can heal us, no matter what ails us. Please grant You extraordinary healing, be it spiritual, emotional, physical or mental, to all those in need but especially to Lee, Pam, Jeff, Helen, Larry, George, Karen, Mark & Lynn, Gary, Tim, Jeff, Joy, Ward, Jeff, Mamie and all those we each name to You now. God we know that Your will is perfect and therefore we ask that all these things be done according to Your wishes and not our own. We pray all this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Have a blessed and awesome weekend and week ahead!!!

Love through Christ,
Niki